Taking Public Health into Barbershops

SLU public health students will visit barbershops this spring, joining forces with
nursing students as they help customers seeking a haircut lead healthier lives. The
students are part of the Barbershop Tour, which has been sponsored by 100 Black Men for nearly a decade, a hands-on learning
experience designed to reduce hypertension and promote health among African-Americans.

SLU students and faculty members are taking part in the Barbershop Tour, a public
health outreach effort for African-American men. Submitted photo

The Barbershop Tour began in 2009 when SLU nursing students in a public health course worked with 100
Black Men to bring their fight against hypertension into barbershops in North St.
Louis and North County. Armed with blood pressure cuffs, they took readings from willing
customers, explained the dangers of high blood pressure and suggested strategies to
become healthier.

More than 40 percent of African-Americans have high blood pressure, and students found
the barbershop is a safe and comfortable place to detect the problem and discuss how
to address it.

Keon L. Gilbert, DrPH, associate professor at SLU's College for Public Health and
Social Justice, (right) and Sheila Grigsby, Ph.D., RN, UMSL assistant professor of
nursing and former SLU nursing adjunct faculty, receive the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan
St. Louis's Health and Wellness award from Lennie Harrison. Submitted Photo

The program has evolved and expanded, now involving UMSL nursing students who screen
for high blood pressure; a SLU nutrition and dietetics faculty member who suggests
little modifications to eat healthier; and SLU public health students who promote
wellness as they conduct lifestyle surveys.

“Over time we have conducted assessments with participants to understand their health
needs, concerns and ability to access health care within the St. Louis metro area.
These assessments have helped to inform how our students engage and communicate with
men and women in the barbershops about strategies they can use to protect their health,”
Gilbert said.

“They assess a range of risk factors for chronic diseases such as smoking, alcohol
consumption, physical activity, the safety of their neighborhoods, access to medical
care, a relationship with a doctor and race-related stress and discrimination and
how they may raise an individual’s risk as well as the risk of a larger community.
This allows students to be part of a public health program in practice.”

Former SLU medical student Jonathan George developed protocols for those with dangerously
high blood pressures so they can get the immediate care they need.

Gilbert is optimistic about the future of the program that gives students a first-person
view of the impact of community and lifestyle on a person’s health.

“We would like for this project to reach more people and for us to more directly connect
people to resources and think about ways we can continue to monitor people’s progress
in improving their health,” he said.